The 2012-13 TCC budget is set to accommodate a hearty package of enrichments to the college that includes salary increases for faculty and tuition increases for students.
The board of trustees on Aug. 22 made the final decision on this year’s budget, dealing directly with tuition increases and college enhancements.
“This year’s budget is all about the students,” Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley said.
While tuition increases will roll out in the upcoming spring semester, a number of projects are taking place on all campuses that will upgrade college facilities or attempt to create better student experiences.
Hadley expressed interest in using part of the money raised from tuition increases to construct student “sticky spaces” designed to attract and keep students on campus for their studies beyond classes. Administrators hope this will generate a higher student completion rate.
Some items proposed included adopting a graduation outreach specialist, a position designed to monitor student progress in degree completion. Students nearing graduation will be put in contact with advisers to help secure their success.
The Collegian staff can understand the board’s concern with student completion, especially if completion directly affects the school’s funding. As students, we do not mind spending an extra $3 an hour on education. However, we are skeptical of what comes next.
As discussed in the Aug. 16 board meeting, the board has generally favored a conservative budget to save room for other projects or necessities the college may not have foreseen.
In this spirit, we are happy to hear our faculty can receive a larger salary and do not mind footing a small part of the bill if only $3 does the job on our part. We have not overlooked, however, that after five years of no increase, this is the second increase in less than two years.
Tuition will increase by 5 percent for in-district students, 13 percent for out-of-district students and 20 percent for out-of-state students, bringing in more than $10 million for the college.
It’s great that instructors get a raise. More places to hang out and study on campus are only a plus. We’re OK with a pocket-sized increase because it doesn’t hurt our pockets that much — yet.
However, part of the appeal of TCC is its low cost for a decent education. We hope this isn’t the beginning of a snowballing of costs for our local higher education.
